Windfalls is the beautiful magical land where fairies live.

The fairies live in their own little mushroom homes which they keep immaculate and sleep on a fresh bed of petals each night. Each fairy is assigned to an apprentice upon finishing school, some jobs just like us humans, teaching and carpentry and other not so much, dust collecting and wing repairs.

The fairies are kind, helpful and gentle beings. However not every fairy is happy with their way of life. Chyme and Emmaline are sisters but are completely opposite, Chyme is the perfect fairy she is helpful, smart and generous, Emmaline however is not what one would call your perfect fairy, she is resentful of her sister, she skips school and loves to cause trouble.

They are forced to put their differences aside, A threat looms in the shadows. Can Chyme and Emmaline save their village from a mutual enemy? A glorious and magical escape to the land of Windfalls. A beautiful story of sisterhood, teamwork, bravery and determination.

Available on Amazon.co.uk 

Natalie Jayne Peeke. The Bookworm mother.

I love working as a correspondent for Frost Magazine and sampling and reviewing Opies Foods products is always a pleasure.

The 140 year old company is based in Kent, the garden of England, and this is no coincidence. Local fruits and vegetables have inspired many Opie products, which range from traditional, but top-quality favourites, such as cocktail cherries and various pickles, including gherkins, cornichons and onions, and even green peppercorns, to some very modern twists on bottled fruits.  They also have an organic range, and many of their fruits and vegetables are sourced in the UK.

As I stared at the jars of Peaches with Courvoisier and Black Cherries with Luxado Kirsch, which I’d been sent to review, my creative juices (and digestive juices) began to flow. But how to enjoy them best? A generous helping accompanied with ice-cream is always the easiest option – and totally delicious, but I was feeling adventurous. My kids’ expressions morphed from excited anticipation to raw dread as I picked up my ancient recipe book, and pleas of ‘we just want them with ice-cream, Mum’ and ‘step away from the oven’ made me question whether they trusted my culinary skills.

Naturally I ignored them and continued leafing through the recipes.

Clafoutis – of course – this French desert was just made for these delicious fruit preserves. So, oven warming nicely, I teetered on the kitchen stool and found some flour at the back of a top cupboard shelf, a little milk, butter, sugar (not too much, I planned to substitute with the yummy cognac- and kirsch-infused syrups from the fruits) and now I just needed some vanilla extract. I was sure I had some. On my knees I reached to the dark recesses of the corner unit and grabbed a handful of small bottles – cochineal (crikey that must be old), almond essence and, yes, vanilla extract.

I emerged, smiling, to be greeted by insolent and miserable stares, but I ploughed on. The batter was made in a jiff with the help of my blender (top tip) and I poured half into each of two buttered flan dishes. I sliced the peaches and arranged them on the batter of one,  put the black cherries on the other.  Around half an hour in the oven (190degC) and I was delighted with the results. Two very professional deserts  – the fruits looked and tasted amazing and the cognac and kirsh-infused syrup gave the clafoutis a really special taste – simply heaven. Even the kids were impressed.

If you want more recipes (from professional chefs) check out the Opies Foods website, where you can also read about their quite unique range of products. These make great gifts for anyone (including yourself, of course). The two fruit preserves I used in my clafoutis are available at Tesco.

Something else you may want to consider is putting some Opies Mixed Fruits With Prosecco into the bottom of a glass, and adding more … of course … prosecco – it makes a very impressive drink for a special occasion.

Photos provided by Splat Marketing

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Since writing about CBD oil in Frost last month, Green Stem CBD wellness products wanted us to let you know that TV presenter Jenny Powell is their new ambassador.

They told us that Jenny discovered CBD oil when she was searching for a safe and natural remedy for crippling migraines, which affected her each month. In the past these had caused her to use various medications, and she had needed to lie in a dark room for 3 or 4 days. Jenny says of CBD oil, ‘I tried it and now eight months later, I haven’t had a migraine,’ and ‘For me, that’s life-changing.’

She’s spoken widely in the media about the benefits of CBD in recent months, and, as a guest on TV show Lorraine, apparently she commented, ‘Just a couple of drops underneath the tongue twice a day works for me.’ It seems that she was so impressed, she shared her CBD oil oral drops with her father, who is in his nineties and suffering from cancer. She felt that his pain, anxiety, and sleep were improved after using the drops.

Just to remind you, readers, anecdotal reports are interesting but not scientific proof of benefit. Currently, only a few hundred people have been studied in clinical trials, and more trials are urgently needed to investigate the pros and cons of CBD, and, importantly, the most-effective and safe doses. Nevertheless, Jenny clearly feels it works for her and her father and we are pleased that her migraines are so much better, whatever the reason.

CBD is short for cannabidiol – extracted from the hemp plant, a cousin of the marijuana plant. Although marijuana contains THC, which makes one ‘high’, CBD doesn’t have this ability. CBD is thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties.

Until more evidence is available I can’t tell you whether it works in the myriad of illnesses suggested, or even what dose you should take. However, if you do decide to try it, it’s important to find a quality product and Green Stem makes CBD to stringent guidelines and quality and potency checks. It is available in Boots.  Their products are also free of THC (the chemical causing marijuana ‘highs’). CBD can affect the blood levels of various medicines, so if you do take it in addition to other medicines, you should check with your doctor.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice

For so long now candles have just been a low flickering light, perhaps with a scent and in a nice jar which can be used for something else when it achieves ‘burn out’. But… But… Icelandic designer Thorunn Arnadottir, founder of 54 Celsius has added a whole new dimension.

Recognised for their abstract, geometric cute animal exterior,  the Pyropet Candle  is not quite what it seems at first glance. Oh no, indeed not –  strike a match, light the wick and enjoy the performance. As it burns and melts it reveals  an aluminium skeleton with fire glowing eyes. As we at Frost Magazine thought: ideal for Halloween, but not just that.

Whether it’s a dinner party amongst friends or just to distract from a hard day at the office, there it is, on the mantel piece – waiting.  Out with the matches, light it, and  let all your stresses and strains wash away as the candle transforms from an innocent, adorable creature into a – well, predator perhaps.

Each Ugla PyroPet Candle comes beautifully packaged in a geometric printed gift box. A wonderful housewarming or birthday gift idea for he or she who takes great pride in their surroundings, I mean let’s face it, it will  create an interesting embellishment to their  living space.

Measuring 4 x 4 x 4.3 inches in size, Ugla is available in two varying colors; Dusky Blue, a hue of timeless, elegance, for versatile usage round the home and Grey which offers a classic, sleek and refined aesthetic that molds to your surroundings effortlessly. Made from the highest quality each Ugla PyroPet Candle is made from Paraffin wax, with a cotton wick and aluminum skeleton.

Ugla (the Owl) is available to buy online for £22.00 from 54 Celsius.

 PyroPet Candles, come in other shapes.  including; Kisa (the Cat), Bíbí (the Bird), Hoppa (the Rabbit), Einar (the Unicorn), Dýri (the Deer), Dreki (the Dragon) and Voffi (the Dog). 

I’d keep a few in for Halloween. What could be better on that spookie evening.

Find out more about the whole PyroPets range:  54 Celsius.

Your one year old is finding their feet, and how can we encourage this stage in their development? Hape has some good old favourites, –  ones they’ve brought right up to the minute. These carefully considered  Push Pals by Hape are in of wood, and in vibrant  colours,  all so simple and welcoming. Our eighteen month old tester just adored them. The bee with flapping wings, and the duck with its moveable, webbed feet which imitates a ducks slapping feet.  She pushed, pulled and sat down to examine them more closely, then up to see the wings of the bee’s wings a go-go and the webbed feet a slap-slap.

The Hape Push Pal, (Ducky) is available to buy online for £19.20 from YesBebe. (Bumblebee) is available to buy online for £19.20 from YesBebe.

And what about the four-wheeled Scoot Around which is perfectly-sized for your little one’s Le Mans adventures, roaring about building confidence.. Extraordinarily stable and maneuverable, with rubber wheels that don’t mark the floor and in  joyous colours.  The choice of higher handlebars ensures a continued comfortable, upright body position with even more room for growth. The Scoot Around is available to buy online for £58.93 from Amazon.

Oooh, and look at the handlegrips on   Hape’s Little Red Rider, the quality wooden walker which encourages early walking from as young as 12 months +, as well as nurturing your child’s sense of balance. But when they’re too tired to walk the Little Red Rider  transforms into a foot powered ride-on. There’s even a a little tray to store away toys as the end of the day. Or maybe they’d prefer to be van drivers for a while, transporting goods from one depot to another. Hape’s Little Red Rider is available to buy online for £52.99 from Amazon.

The last thing we need when packing for holidays or even a day out, is a handbag full of bottles of this and that, all too large for purpose. So try this travel sized perfume atomiser. It works extraordinarily well, and is not a faff to fill.

PortaScent is the ingenious travel size perfume atomiser spray bottle which seems to be the perfect solution for traveling with your favourite fragrances, essential oils and aftershaves. This refillable perfume spray has pump-to-fill technology for spill free refilling in seconds, which ensures not a drop of your favourite fragrance is lost. Not to mention the additional pour in option for splash fragrances, it makes a fantastic gift idea for a fresh spritz of perfume or aftershave when you are on the go all day.

Air travel approved to fit seamlessly into your carry-on luggage, wave goodbye to clunky oversized perfume bottles in hefty glass bottles and 150ml in size, which makes them totally impractical for travel. Thanks to the creators of the PortaScent this is no longer the case, the travel perfume atomiser bottle from Aydya. Saving you time, space and money in your suitcase,  leaving you that little extra space in your luggage allowance.

Made of sturdy aluminium shell which keeps up with the demand of a hectic lifestyle, leak-proof, hardwearing, lightweight and glass free. Not just a must have travel accessory for those long haul journey’s, the PortaScent allows you to keep smelling fresh when you’re simply heading from a long day in the office to post work drinks. Discreetly packaged, application is fast and easy, spraying a fine mist for even coverage. It is the perfect refillable perfume bottle for the car, handbag or gym bag for on the go freedom.

Offering up to 120 sprays capacity, the clear window ensures you can keep an eye on just how much of your favourite scent is left before you need to refill. The PortaScent is available in a selection of stunning subtle colours to suit your taste, such as metallic silver, pink, gold or black to name only a few.

The PortaScent Refillable Travel Perfume Atomiser Spray Bottle (Silver, Pink, Gold or Black) is available to buy online for £7.99 from Leakproof.

It’s harvest time in the countryside, as the Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK takes place in the south of England. Over 38,000 participants from more than 100 countries will attend to promote a sense of peace in society and eradicate all forms of Islamophobia.

Eminent speakers discuss a range of religious topics and their relevance to contemporary society. Parliamentarians, civic leaders and diplomats from different countries will also address the gathering and underline the conventions objective of enhancing unity, understanding and mutual respect.

 A special feature of this convention is that it is blessed by the presence of His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He addresses the convention over each of the three days, providing an invaluable insight into religious teachings and how they are a source of guidance for the world today.

Those attending (including approximately 1000 from Africa) are converting a Hampshire farm into a 3 day mini village. The event has a real festive feel to it with its on-site Bazar, exhibitions (including one on the Turin Shroud!) Britain’s largest kitchen and a roti making factory. Sounds a bit akin to Glastonbury.

Interestingly a unique copy of the Quran will be showcased for the first time at this convention. The Al-Qalam (The Pen) project, founded by calligrapher and Islamic art collector Razwan Baig invited members of the public from all walks of life and with no prior experience of calligraphy to hand-write a single verse of the Quran in Arabic. This ‘crowdsourced’ Quran, has taken over five years to complete and the project, run by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, illustrates the importance of the Quran for the more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world.

Razwan Baig says:

“The Quran is a treasure of wisdom and knowledge for all. This is the message which resonates in the heart of the calligrapher while they are penning the sacred text, thus it is truly special for each one of us.

“This is the first copy of the Holy Quran in 1400 years which has been compiled by more than 6000 contributors – both Muslims and non-Muslims – who penned each verse and this will be preserved in history. Most important in the entire journey of the Al-Qalam Project was the contribution of His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Caliph and the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, who penned the opening chapter, Surah Al-Fatihah.”

There will also be a special exhibition hosted by The Review of Religions in collaboration with Razwan Baig, focusing on Islamic calligraphy and art by award-winning sculptor, Adam Williamson, creator of the HM The Queen Mother Memorial, who will be working on a new piece over the three days of the convention. Razwan Baig, one of the largest private collectors of Islamic artefacts in the UK, will also be displaying a selection of rare antiquities from his personal collection.

The Review of Religions, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s official English magazine, have managed the running of the Al-Qalam project worldwide.

The Al-qamal-project

www.pressahmadiyya.com/jalsauk/

Images courtesy of Noor Hadi

Having seen some amazing transformations in the media (take Ru Paul’s Drag Race – my favourite programme), I am a firm believer that, with the right expertise, we can all look amazing. So, when I road-tested some products at the recent Christmas In July press exhibition, I was delighted to find that I looked (temporarily) fabulous.

As I had just struggled through the London heat wave, I arrived at the exhibition looking like the cookie monster on a bad hair day. Thanks to the lovely staff on the Revamp Professional stand and their professional hair styling products I was soon looking like Jennifer Aniston once again – yes I am due for an eye check. Whilst the lovely hairdresser was working her magic, I learned about the secret of Revamp products. Whether you use their straighteners, curling tongs, or their various air stylers, they all automatically infuse Progloss oils as they style your hair – how neat is that? Progloss oils contain keratin, argon and coconut, and leave your hair smooth and shiny, in fact, as if you have just left the hairdresser’s. I think the before and after photos illustrate the point.

The lady who was educating me on Revamp products must have noticed my Louis Vuitton-sized eye bags, because she slipped me a Homedics Eye Revive.  This neat little wand delivers light therapy, sonic massage and heat to relieve tired eyes and apparently it also enhances the effects of moisture creams and serums. I must admit it was pleasant to use, and I fancy my eyes are looking a little better.  Homedics specialise in beauty products to use at home, including beauty, aromatherapy, massage and hair removal. I must say, it’s nice to have all the benefits of spa-type treatments without leaving your house and their products are excellent. The Gel Shiatsu Back Massager with heat and remote control (see picture) looks particularly tempting.

On the same theme – if you like the idea of treatments at home but would rather someone did it for you, you may want to try Secret Spa, who’ll send a therapist to you to sort out your face, hair, eyelashes or nails, or give you a fabulous spray tan.

So now, you’ve worked on your body, Beauty Crush, sold by H&A, has a great range of makeup products. I particularly like their blending sponges and their eye tool collection (eye shadow brushes, tweezers and lash curlers in a cute bag). The right tools really make such a difference and these were finalists in the Beauty Global Awards 2019.

So spoil yourself – why not?

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk